NC headliners: 50 events, webinars & deadlines coming up this month

Here’s our exclusive wrapup of upcoming events happening across North Carolina in March. Included are the latest meetups, conferences, workshops, application deadlines and networking events happening in Asheville, Charlotte, the Triad, Wilmington and other parts of the state.

This post is part of our weekly column of upcoming events, along with our comprehensive resource guide for startups in the Triangle. To find out what’s happening this month in the Triangle specifically, check out part one of this week’s column. Another post previews April events.

These columns are an extension of our interactive calendar of tech and startup events. If you’d like to submit an event, feel free to send me an email.

Note: The following list is our lineup of state-wide events through the end of March—most have been switched to a virtual format due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

UNCW Swain Center International Women’s Day Speaker Series

March 8-12 (online)

This week, UNC Wilmington’s Swain Center for Executive Education & Economic Development is hosting an International Women’s Day Speaker Series covering topics like overcoming imposter syndrome, building a network, and more.

Talent Network: Unique Ways to Fill Your Talent Pipeline

March 9, 9-10 a.m. (online)

NC TECH is hosting a panel discussion covering the many resources and ideas local organizations are exploring to fill their talent pipeline.

8(a) Business Development Program

March 9, 9-11 a.m. (online)

The North Carolina District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a webinar on how local businesses can use the 8(a) certification to enter the government contracting arena.

Launch & Learn: Developing a Minimum Viable Product

March 9, 12-1 p.m. (online)

The Small Business & Technology Development Center’s Business Launch initiative helps entrepreneurs to evaluate their idea, create a business model around it and launch a business. Learn more in this webinar.

Mountain BizWorks PPP 2.0 Information Update

March 9, 3-4 p.m. (online)

Mountain BizWorks is hosting a series of webinars each week on Tuesday to share the latest information about the new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding.

18th Annual Wilson Online Caregiver Conference

March 9 (online)

This online conference will explore how dementia care partnering has been impacted by the pandemic and lessons learned in the process.

2021 NC Main Street Virtual Conference

March 9-11 (online)

The 20th annual NC Main Street Conference, presented virtually this year, will cover the future of North Carolina downtowns, marketing efforts, events, community-building, and more, in 2021.

1 Million Cups Lake Norman

March 10, 7:30-9 a.m. (online)

Every Wednesday morning, entrepreneurs in the Lake Norman area join to present their companies to mentors, advisers and other startups. Join to meet new people and collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs.

1 Million Cups Charlotte

March 10, 8-9 a.m. (online)

Held every week, 1 Million Cups Charlotte features a presentation from a local startup followed by a Q&A from the community.

1 Million Cups Robeson County

March 10, 8-9 a.m. @Givens Performing Arts Center, UNC Pembroke

In this monthly event, entrepreneurs local to Robeson County will present their products/services to peers and network with the startup community.

PitchBreakfast

March 10, 8:30-10 a.m. (online)

Every month, a handful of Charlotte-area companies headline PitchBreakfast, pitching their products and services for five minutes, after which they will answer questions from the audience and a panel of entrepreneurs and experts.

1 Million Cups Wilmington

March 10, 9-10 a.m. (online)

This weekly event brings together entrepreneurs in the Wilmington and Cape Fear community to gather for coffee, casual startup pitches and conversation.

Contracting 101: Selling Your Products & Services To the Government

March 10, 10-11 a.m. (online)

The Small Business and Technology Development Center at UNC Wilmington is hosting a webinar covering government contracting basics, marketing to the government and improving your chances of success.

Spotlight on Business & Nonprofit Resources to Help You Succeed

March 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (online)

Forsyth Tech’s Small Business Center and the Winston Salem Forsyth County Public Library are hosting a virtual event series (held every Wednesday) featuring free library resources that nonprofits can use to research competition, find trends in their industry, and identify sales prospects and sources of supply.

Marketing Outside the Box

March 10, 12:30 p.m. (online)

Hustle Winston-Salem’s weekly Marketing Outside the Box series will offer innovative and radical ideas for how local business owners can market their business and boost their revenue. Each week, attendees will be introduced to a new marketing strategy or technology.

Preparing an Effective Capability Statement

March 10, 3 p.m. (online)

The NC Procurement Technical Assistance Center is hosting a webinar covering how small businesses can create a strong capability statement for government contracting solicitations.

2021 Capital Connects

March 10, 4:30-7:30 p.m. (online)

Launch Greensboro is hosting its 18th annual Capital Connects pitch competition this month. Startup teams will present short pitches to regional investors, competing for $10,000 in cash and additional in-kind rewards.

Application Deadline: NCBiotech Flash Grant Proposals (Cycle 3)

March 10

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is accepting proposals for the next round of its Flash Grant program, which funds innovative research ideas in life science. Up to $20,000 may be requested for short, highly focused projects.

Asheville Chamber Mega Networking

March 11, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. @Holiday Inn Biltmore West

At Asheville Chamber’s Mega Networking event, attendees can make connections with business prospects through a “round-robin” networking format. Attendance will be limited and socially distanced.

Introduction to the Charlotte Startup Community

March 11, 1-2:30 p.m. (online)

In this free virtual event, Innovate Charlotte will highlight the local events/meetups, people, companies, investors, incubators, programs and issues that encompass Charlotte’s growing startup community.

2021 Rural Summit

March 15-17 (online)

NC Rural Center’s 2021 Rural Summit will cover the policy issues and priorities affecting North Carolina’s rural communities, with a special focus on entrepreneurship and small business development.

Asheville Chamber Business Before Hours

March 16, 9-10 a.m. (online)

In this virtual networking event, Asheville Chamber members will join together to make connections and participate in meaningful small group discussions.

Mountain BizWorks PPP 2.0 Information Update

March 16, 3-4 p.m. (online)

Mountain BizWorks is hosting a series of webinars each week on Tuesday to share the latest information about the new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding.

1 Million Cups Lake Norman

March 17, 7:30-9 a.m. (online)

1 Million Cups Charlotte

March 17, 8-9 a.m. (online)

Held every week, 1 Million Cups Charlotte features a presentation from a local startup followed by a Q&A from the community.

1 Million Cups Wilmington

March 17, 9-10 a.m. (online)

This weekly event brings together entrepreneurs in the Wilmington and Cape Fear community to gather for coffee, casual startup pitches and conversation.

Spotlight on Business & Nonprofit Resources to Help You Succeed

March 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (online)

National AgTech Forum

March 17, 4-5:30 p.m. (online)

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, together with AgLaunch and AgStart, is hosting a series of monthly events with experts sharing their perspectives on key agtech industry topics. This month’s event will feature a discussion on soil health, data and carbon capture.

Introduction to VentureSouth

March 17, 4-6 p.m. (online)

In this webinar, VentureSouth will cover the basics of angel investing, why you should invest with an angel group and the post-pandemic investing environment.

Packard Place Public House

March 17, 5:15-6:30 p.m. (online)

Every two weeks, Charlotte’s entrepreneurial community joins together virtually for an evening of networking and connections over drinks.

NC Chamber 79th Annual Meeting

March 18, 8:30-11:30 a.m. (online)

NC Chamber’s 79th annual meeting, held virtually, will feature a keynote speaker, live one-on-one and group networking, and a presentation of this year’s Award for Distinguished Citizenship and Award for Distinguished Service.

Bonfire Encore: The Future of the Food Economy

March 18, 12-1:30 p.m. (online)

The Center for Creative Economy is hosting a discussion on how Winston-Salem can create a lively culinary scene, compete with other foodie destinations in the southeast and stand out as a market leader in harmony with local farmers.

2021 NC Aquaculture Development Virtual Conference

March 18-20 (online)

This year’s virtual Aquaculture Development Conference will bring together current and prospective fish farmers, scientists and regulatory personnel, along with the general public, to discuss topics relevant to aquaculture species in North Carolina and across the U.S.

Venture Connect Online 2021

March 23-25 (online)

The Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s Venture Connect Online event will feature an on-demand lineup of the region’s most promising early-stage tech and life science companies. More TechWire coverage here.

1 Million Cups Lake Norman

March 24, 7:30-9 a.m. (online)

1 Million Cups Charlotte

March 24, 8-9 a.m. (online)

Held every week, 1 Million Cups Charlotte features a presentation from a local startup followed by a Q&A from the community.

1 Million Cups Wilmington

March 24, 9-10 a.m. (online)

This weekly event brings together entrepreneurs in the Wilmington and Cape Fear community to gather for coffee, casual startup pitches and conversation.

Exploring Economies 2021

March 24, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (online)

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is hosting a webinar to get national, state and local leaders’ perspectives on how they’re approaching economic revitalization, policies to advance racial equity and planning for more inclusive spaces.

Spotlight on Business & Nonprofit Resources to Help You Succeed

March 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (online)

Marketing Outside the Box

March 17, 12:30 p.m. (online)

NC TECH Diversity + Inclusion in Tech Summit

March 24-25 (online)

NC TECH’s Diversity + Inclusion in Tech Summit will feature strategies companies can use to create an environment that drives innovation and improves their bottom line.

Marketing Outside the Box

March 24, 12:30 p.m. (online)

TechTalksCLT: Digital Diagnostics with AI

March 30, 12-1 p.m. (online)

Advent Coworking’s next Tech Talks event will cover the potential opportunities of applying AI to medical diagnostics.

1 Million Cups Lake Norman

March 31, 7:30-9 a.m. (online)

1 Million Cups Charlotte

March 31, 8-9 a.m. (online)

Held every week, 1 Million Cups Charlotte features a presentation from a local startup followed by a Q&A from the community.

1 Million Cups Wilmington

March 31, 9-10 a.m. (online)

This weekly event brings together entrepreneurs in the Wilmington and Cape Fear community to gather for coffee, casual startup pitches and conversation.

Spotlight on Business & Nonprofit Resources to Help You Succeed

March 31, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (online)

Greater Winston-Salem Annual Meeting: Where It Starts

March 31, 12-1 p.m. (online)

This virtual event, hosted by Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., will highlight economic growth opportunities in Winston-Salem’s future. The program will also include an awards ceremony and a talk with Guy Meldrum, the president and CEO of Reynolds American Inc.